An aerial view of Pingtan. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

As an island county located off the east coast of Fujian province, Pingtan is the closest point on the Chinese mainland to the island of Taiwan.

Pingtan county, also known as the Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone, is part of the China (Fujian) Free Trade Zone and serves as a key platform for cross-Strait exchanges and opening-up initiatives.

As a gateway to Taiwan, Pingtan has established shipping routes linking northern, central, and southern Taiwan, as well as direct routes to major cities like Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. It takes just nine hours to transport fresh agricultural and aquatic products from Kaohsiung to Pingtan.

Pingtan has introduced a series of innovative and preferential policies to attract Taiwan enterprises and residents to settle in the area, achieving a number of pioneering breakthroughs. For instance, it became the first county-level region on the Chinese mainland to recruit Taiwan residents for positions in the public sector and state-owned enterprises, as part of efforts to explore a model of cross-Strait co-governance.

Pingtan is the largest island in Fujian province. Its beautiful natural scenery and local culture have been well preserved. Its extensive wetlands make it a paradise for birds. Thanks to its long, winding coastline and abundant wetland resources, Pingtan provides an ideal habitat for migratory birds to rest and forage during the winter and spring seasons.

For Pingtan, the blue sea, sandy beaches, and pristine natural environment provide a strong ecological foundation foundations for its sustainable development and high-quality growth. The zone has experienced rapid growth in tourism as it accelerates efforts to build itself into an international tourism island.

The zone is also home to emerging industries such as information technology, cross-border e-commerce, shipping, express logistics, film, culture and finance.

In 2025, Pingtan's gross regional product (GRP) grew by 5 percent from the previous year, while total retail sales of consumer goods increased by 4 percent.

Staff inspect goods at a logistics warehouse for cross-border e-commerce in Pingtan. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Keqiutou Site Museum in Pingtan showcases artifacts of the Austronesian peoples. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]